Hip to be square: Science fairs evolve ‘coolness’ and global impact

(ARA) - Pioneering new cancer treatments, designing more efficient wind turbines and developing virtual reality environments similar to what was depicted in the movie Iron Man - clearly, today's science fairs have come a long way from the days when "uncool" kids gathered to display dioramas of the solar system and maybe an electric car or two.

"Science fairs have changed a great deal in the last 20 years," says Dudley Herschbach, a Nobel laureate and former board member of Society for Science & the Public. "Projects have become much more high level and sophisticated, mostly due to computers, which are used in finding ideas and resources for projects and in carrying them out."

Modern science fairs draw projects that address global issues and cutting-edge science. And they're cooler than ever - even President Obama says so. "Whenever I get a chance to go to a science fair, I go," the president told participants at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair in March.

Events like the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair squash traditional perceptions of the uncool science fair. This event draws on a global network of local, regional and national science fairs to encourage millions of students around the world to explore their curiosity for how the world works and develop new solutions for global challenges.

This year, more than 1,500 high school student finalists representing 65 countries, regions and territories gathered in Los Angeles where they displayed their research, interacted with their peers from around the world and were judged in person by more than 1,000 science, engineering and industry professionals. The top award winners, Blake Marggraff and Matthew Feddersen from Lafayette, Calif., took home $75,000 from the Intel Foundation for developing a potentially more effective and less expensive cancer treatment that places tin metal near a tumor before radiation therapy. In total, more than $4 million in awards were given out to young people with the promise to be the world's next leaders, thinkers and innovators.

With demand continuing to grow for new professionals in science-related fields, science fairs are a great opportunity for young people to explore a field of interest, contribute their own research and observations to the field, and interact with others - including experts - who share their interests. Winners are celebrated for their creativity and leadership, and all participants benefit from the experience, camaraderie and friendships science fairs expose them to. And while overall American students tend to lag behind youth in other countries in math and science studies, science fairs have become a training ground for tomorrow's American innovators.

"Future science fairs will see more team projects as scientific research becomes increasingly collaborative and multi-disciplinary," Herschbach predicts. "This will include international teams, as communication is now so greatly facilitated by email and video conferencing."

As science fairs continue to evolve, watch for these trends to grow:

The "cool" factor - Teens and children today rely on technology in virtually every aspect of their lives, from using PCs and the Internet for homework to multi-player online gaming and social networking applications that keep them in touch with friends and family. Their ability to be comfortable with emerging technologies could be one factor that's driving increased acceptance of science fairs as fun and "cool."

Global scope - Science fairs are truly going global. More participants submit projects that apply science and technology to global issues of concern, from clean drinking water for developing countries to disaster response and recovery, alternative energy and cancer treatment.